The sixth largest Swedish city has a textile museum, medieval churches, and a university. Its cobblestone old town and annual Zoo Music Festival draw many visitors.
In Borås, a city of 114,000 people in western Sweden, you'll walk past seven-story-high murals painted on apartment buildings and a 9-meter bronze Pinocchio statue by Jim Dine. The city's connection to textiles goes back 400 years - today, H&M runs its worldwide online operations here, while fashion students learn their craft at the Swedish School of Textiles. At the city zoo, you can see Sweden's only African elephants roaming their enclosure.
Street Art Scene
Since 2014, the No Limit Street Art festival has transformed Borås's buildings into canvases. You'll find NeSpoon's red and white lace wall stretching across Västerbrogatan and DALeast's blue eagle spreading its wings on the university walls. Walk along the Viskan river to see Fredrik Wretman's Bodhi, a large bust rising from the water, or stop by the eight-meter-high House of Knowledge by Jaume Plensa - a human figure formed entirely from letters.
Textile Industry
The Swedish School of Textiles at the University of Borås trains 11,000 students in textile design and manufacturing. H&M manages its global online sales from the city center. At the Textile Museum, you can see industrial spinning and weaving machines from the 1800s alongside new designs from current students and professionals.
Family Activities and Wildlife
More than 600 animals from 65 species live at Borås Zoo, including Sweden's only African elephants. The zoo participates in breeding programs and sends lions to other zoos worldwide. From March to November, you can climb through treetop courses at Upzone Adventureforest next to the zoo. Children can try hands-on experiments at the Navet Science Center while learning about technology, mathematics, and science.
Transportation and Access
Trains connect Borås and Gothenburg every 30 minutes, with a 45-minute journey time. SJ runs 3-4 daily trains to Kalmar, and Västtrafik operates routes to Herrljunga and Varberg. About 100,000 people travel between Borås and Gothenburg each month by train and regular bus services.
Cultural Venues and Events
The Kulturhuset contains the city theater, library, and art museum, with art collections dating from the 1930s. Local and visiting musicians play free concerts in the town square every Thursday during summer. In November, the Borås Spelkonvent brings together more than 500 players for board games, Warhammer 40k, and Magic: The Gathering tournaments. The Abecita Museum of Modern Art displays Pop Art and photography from the 1960s onward, including pieces by Andy Warhol and Robert Rauschenberg.
